Carol Vorderman Leaves BBC Radio Show Over New Social Media Guidelines

Jesse Whittock
·3-min read

Carol Vorderman has become the first presenter to leave a BBC role over its new social media guidelines.

The presenter, who is a frequent political poster on X/Twitter, revealed she is leaving her Saturday morning radio show on BBC Radio Wales after five years after — aptly with a social media post.

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“The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines which I respect. However despite my show being lighthearted with no political content, it was explained to me that as it is a weekly show in my name, the new guidelines apply to all and any content that I post all year round,” she wrote.

“since those non-negotiable changes to my radio contract were made, I’ve ultimately found that I’m not prepared to lose my voice on social medial, change who I am, or lose the ability to express the strong beliefs I hold about the political turmoil [the UK] finds itself in.”

The BBC’s new social media guidelines were introduced after Gary Lineker tweeted to link government immigration policy to rhetoric used in 1930s Germany. Lineker was suspended and then quickly reinstated after many of his close colleagues effectively went on strike in protest over his treatment, forcing shows off air.

The new rules dictate that the BBC’s highest-profile presenters “outside of journalism should be able to express views on issues and policies – including matters of political contention – but stop well short of campaigning in party politics or for activist organisations.”

While Vorderman’s show is certainly not one of the BBC’s largest and is not considered “flagship” like soccer show Match of the Day, which Lineker anchors, she carries a nationwide reputation and her social output is often very critical of the current Conservative government.

BBC News reports the issue relates to the guideline’s civility section, which says all BBC staff and freelancers are “required to respect civility in public discourse and to not bring the BBC into disrepute.”

On Saturday, Vorderman messaged to her 900,000 followers on X: “This iteration of the Tory Party needs to be utterly dismantled at the next election.” She has also tweeted about various government ministers such as Suella Braverman.

While this is technically not campaigning on behalf of a political party, it appears the BBC sees this as infringing the rules.

“My decision has been to continue to criticise the current UK government for what it has done to the country which I love and I’m not prepared to stop,” added Vorderman in her message. “I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on.

“Consequently, I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave. We each must make our decisions.”

Vorderman is best known as the first maths genius on long-running Channel 4 quiz show Countdown, joining when the network first launched in 1982 and leaving in 2008 to be replaced by Rachel Riley. She has hosted the Pride of Britain Awards since 1999, was a presenter on ITV’s Loose Women and appeared on reality shows Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!. She began her BBC Wales radio show in 2018.

A BBC hadn’t responded to request for comment at press time. In a statement to the BBC News website, a BBC spokesperson said: “Carol has been a presenter on BBC Radio Wales since 2018. We’d like to thank her for her work and contribution to the station over the past five years.”

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